Game idea: Looking for feedback.

[ParitySoul]

I posted this on rpg.net, but in all honestly I was thinking about running this in HERO. But I'd always enjoy thoughts on this from the Champions crew.

 

Proving once again that a childhood wasted on the vulgarites of saturday morning and weekday afternoon cartoons has not be put to waste:

 

Master Villian: Professor ARCHELAUS but more on him later.

 

Setting: As finaly leave the dregs of the 20th century behind us a new age of science and reason dawns. In recent years researches into bio and nano technology have finaly broken the boundries between what was once dreams and reality. A new race of superhumans the "Enhanced" have emerged. National warrirors, fireproof firemen, flying carries, and corperate ubermench all stride forward in this new age of superheros.

 

But, just as prometheus's stealing of fire was punished, a world reaching too far finds itself crushed under the weight of the very technology that allowed for its wonders.

 

Dr. Richard Archelaus one of the leaders in his field of nanotechnology. He develops a method of using the existing nanos that everyday citizens use to alter their biochemistry and hijack their higher brain functions. In effect rendering them zombies, perfect slave labor. A added side effect is that any "Enhanced" in range of this effect is normed down and rendered harmless. His only problem is that he needs time and resources to carry out his plan, and to build his 'zone generators' that will produce the effect he desires.

 

So he carefully seeks allies amonged the Enhanced and alters them just enough that the field's effects do nothing to them. So is born the "Changed". This alteration process leave obvious physical alterations, but otherwise leaves them...human looking.

 

With superhuman backup, and enough power to start his empire, the good doctor opens up with this first machine right on top of New York City. Within hours the entire city is a mass of drones under the good doctors control, and his enforcers quickly deal with any would be hero ariving to save the day. Seeing as they loose their powers in the presence of this machine, and in short order...change to drone status. With careful precious the doctor build portalble generators and uses his forces to drop them on large inhabited areas. In under a 2 year time he has 90% of every inhabited city and a large number of the worlds population under thumb. Only a few unpopulated and heavily fortifed locations still survive free. With with so much production behind him the doctor's forces will have control over them in short order.

 

So a desperate plan is hatched! Teams of free scientists begin the development of Enhanced warriors immune to the Archelaus effect. A few desperate months of reasearch finaly reviel a team of heros that have altered nano types and brain chemistries, rendering them immune. And not too soon. The good Dr. has begun moving in his most recent battle platform over one the last few free cities. If it touches down anywhere near his target zone the allies will be horriblely comprised. The PCs rush off to tackle this challenge as their first assignment. (Mostly drones with 1 or 2 Changed leading them.)

 

Episode 2: The Beta Team - Eventualy rumors leak their ways to the PCs that they were not the only team of heros altered to be immune to the Archelaus effect. But, when they ask the only answer they get is...it was a failure. Little do they know that the other 'team' survived the process but was horribly altered in such was that they were driven mad. To make matters worse, they seem able to 'awaken' dormant Enhanced in the zones and convert them over to their own type of insanity. (Part of this other teams job was to reawaken the lost Enhanced and bring them over onto the resistance's side. But, this 'effect' turned agains the scientists designing them.) The PC are immune much to the same reason why the Archelaus fields don't work on them. But, any potential allies must be rescued in time before one of the mad ones get to them!!!

 

Episode 3: New Members! With the rescue of other Enhanced the scientists responceable for their immunity work furiously on a manner to alter these vulnerable supers so they can work with their liberators. Early developments (for new players) involve portable units that give them limited times of immunity. But if damaged, exposes them to terrible risk. Later, processes are developed that work on Enhanced only to grant them permant immunity, but just as the good guys work up a cure, the doctor Archelaus alters the zone field. Setting them back, and requiring more missions to steal his plans, disable generators, etc.

 

This plot plays up a lot of paranoia. Remember when the good doctor takes someone, they'll offer up everything they know to him. So secrets don't last long is on of the infected drones hears anything. The people are slow witted. This is not natural and goes away quickly when outside of the field. But the field's energies are addictive to keep the people near by. Eventualy drones fight back against their would-be heros.

 

The Changed are on par with the PC's if not better. Dr. Archelaus is willing to do dangerous experiments on them, that the PC's HQ wouldn't dream of. It become a game of wits eventualy as the PC have to be quick and stealthy.

 

Styleistly I would see the Powers and appearances of the PCs to be either synthetic or lightly cybernetic. Not, full on cyberarms...unless that is desired. But perhaps visable circit patters in blood vessels, old corperate uniforms now a little worn from all the fighting. Perhaps super adaptives that use devices to triger their transformations. Cyber'psi' hackers that override local nano clusters and hijack machines and computers to do their dirty work. Not that the badguys don't adapt to this.

 

 

Sources for this:

 

Spiral Zone - Mostly, this was a great show! Well, sorta. J. Michael Straczynski was on the team that thought it up, but the suits took it over. Oh, where did we hear this story.

 

Galaxy Rangers - One of the coolest shows out there. But tried to take on ThunderCats and failed. The characters from this are perfect PC material...minus the western themes. Or leave them in.

 

 

Thoughts?

[Ghost who Walks]

Spiral Zone was a geat show, and a very plausible campaign setting. I've been planning to do it as an alternate-earth type world for some time.

 

Never saw Galaxy Rangers.

 

I like your concept. It provides villains, allows the players to make a difference, and shows they can have an effect ofn the world. All important. Only potential problem you may have is the stakes involved...it will make for a very dark campaign world.

 

I dislike the nanobot option, as I feel their capabilities are overstated. They are the "cosmic rays" of the 21st century.

 

An alternative might be to have some people be naturally immune, due to a genetic factor (or a serum of some kind). This would allow rescue of those who are immune from contaminated areas. Also, you could have non-heroic types who are immune, increasing the RP options.

 

The problem with heroes being created, is only the best will be given the option to become heroes. This destroys the whole concept of what "heroism" is, IMHO.

 

~Please forgive the lateness of my reply.